sevans16

Well I managed to get one of the first batch released last friday and the boxes showed up today!!

krayzc-RCU

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good deal

T. Bob

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Any suspension problems with the van?

Hooked-On-RC

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Be interesting to see what the AUW is of this plane when it is done... I saw it at the AMA show in January and It not look like it was built very light!

sevans16

I will hopefully get it unpacked and some weights on it this weekend! I am sure it is not the lightest airframe and may not be the best competition airframe? But at well under 1000.00 to the door with all the hardware(spinner, fiberglass pilot, carbon main gear, rudder servo tray, metal servo arms, dash panel) I figured what the hey. It should be a fun plane and one monkey off my back when hucking it about!! Minimal cost and build time. I only regret the lack of a can tunnel.

Jake Ruddy

My Feedback: (40)

There isn't a tunnel it in??? Wow.. I am shocked that they would do that given the size and weight of this plane.

y2k6vette

Shortly after I had placed an order for this plane I found out that there was no can tunnel; and the projected weight was approximately 8# above other planes this size.

Faced with these drawbacks I decided to cancel my order and look for alternative platforms. Too bad that Great Planes can't build a plane with a can tunnel and lower weight.

DadsToysBG

My Feedback: (35)

I've got one sitting in front of me right now. If I can find a CF wing tube should be able to drop one pound. My tube weighted in a 1 3/4 pounds. Looks good in side. I don't think that weight will be a big issue.Just weighted the fush with the cowl and rudder on at 9.5lbs. Dennis

Hooked-On-RC

My Feedback: (16)

As mentioned I saw this plane at the AMA show and spoke with the boys from Great Planes. You can in fact put canisters in the plane however you need to get out your dremel tool in order to do so. I found that interesting as well...with all of the 30%-33%-35%-40%-42% ARF airplanes out there that already provide canister tunnels, Great Planes decides not to include them in their intial launch into large scale 3D planes....questionable marketing if you ask me. Well hopefully all will owrk out for those that have purchased the plane, it was one of my consierations for a new toy until I was informed it did not include canister tunnels.

DadsToysBG

My Feedback: (35)

Anybody know where I can find a CF wing tube for this plane? Dennis

sevans16

hooked on: tell me what you know about cans?? I don'tind a little extra work. I was told cans for DA were something like 14" firewall to wing tube is like 12" from what I have heard?? What were you told aboutcan install???

rcairflr

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Try Troy Built Models, he carries numberous sizes of carbon fiber wing'tubes.

http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/WingTubes.htm

rcairflr

My Feedback: (44)

I'm thinking you could also loose 1.25-1.5 pounds by going with the ZDZ-160. RC showcase shows a weight of 6.5 pounds for this engine.

DadsToysBG

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RCAir, hard to buy another engine when I have two with no home. One is a EVO and the other is a 3-w. Dennis

JPrc

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What size in the wingtube?

T. Bob

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The question is Why?

There are so many larger ARFs on the market today why buy this one?

Sure they’re more expensive but if you have to go with carbon fiber and larger engines, where’s the savings?

T. Bob

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With that attitude you can put canisters in anything.

Very short sighted.

bodywerks

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It is a metric tube, and I don't think TBM has metric tubes. I know of three places to get metric tubes:
Aeroworks
Graphtech
PBG composites (Contact Desert aircraft for more info)

DadsToysBG

My Feedback: (35)

Guys, GP put out a great looking plane that is really built lite for a price that most anybody can afford. Is it the right plane for all, No. But it will allow somebody to move into GS and then move up in planes. The fun part to me seeing what i can do to make it better. Thats why I'm going to try a CF tube. I'm a GP dealer and I really mean it when I say "I fly want I sell". I work six days a week in my store and can't compete in IMACC so I fly for fun. $140 for mufflers vs $400 for cans is a no brainer. If this plane comes in at 37 to 38lbs. with a 150 it will do all I want and more. GP is not building a IMACC plane, they've built a plane for the every day pilot. They included a great looking spinner with the plane, but I'm going to use a red True Turn (just for looks). This plane will not fit the bill for everybody but for the person thats wants to have a big plane for fun this would be a great first plane. By the way the wing tube is 2"x52". Also if your careful with the throttle it might work for IMACC anyway. RCAIR is right if you have to buy a engine why not the lightest. If you have one use it. Dennis

Flip and Fly

What I would like to know is what the total weight of the airframe is out of the box. If it was around 20lbs ( it should be) I could just put my 3W 106cs in it. Just wondering, the price is good.

T. Bob

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I wish my LHS did that.

Hell they don't even fly.

Good luck with the build keep us posted on the weight.

Hooked-On-RC

My Feedback: (16)

The fact remians that there are several 40% ARF's available, with larger wingspans and more area that are coming in at that weight. Based on the GP wingspan, it sounds heavy.

sevans16 I was not told much about the installation of cans in this plane at all, other than the fact it does not "can ready" and you require a dremel tool to do the job. At the AMA show they had this plane hanging from it's prop and you could not really get a good look at it from the floor, other than the tail section. There is no question it is a very nice looking plane, it is an Extra, what more can be said, however, IMO I think there are better planes out there for the average modeller!

DadsToysBG

My Feedback: (35)

I weighted the fush with the cowl rudder and canapy at 9.5lbs. Got the rudder servos in and am now getting the rudder ready to glue on. I'll then set up the pull-pull and move on to the elevators. I do my radio set up at each step to keep from setting up the radio last. I think instead of using the springs on the tail wheel I'll use a pull-pull on it too. I build here in the store so all can see. I get a lot of input on what I'm doing wrong or right depending on who's in the store at the time. Dennis

y2k6vette

For those of you who are trying to guess the final weight, this might help you in the engine department. I just finished weighing my ZDZ160 and here's the poop:

ZDZ160, ignition, exhaust headers, two cans, 5" spinner and 31x14 comp. prop all up weight is 12.75#

Hope that helps. Good luck with the build. I just ordered an Aviation Models SD 37.5% Yak instead. It comes out at the same weight as this plane from GP and has some 500-600 more squares on the wing. Also, I fly at 4600Ft., so wing loading does matter.

DadsToysBG

My Feedback: (35)

Well I got the rudder on and the pull-pull system up and working. I've tried 4 different places and still no CF tube for the wings. Still have two more to call, but it's looking like a dead end idea. About a 1/3 of the club has been in to see the plane. I've now got 30 ways to do the same thing. Will start on the elevators tomorrow. Dennis